Whispers from Every Wood: A Living Index of Global Fae & Spirits
Ahhh, welcome, wanderer of the weird and wonderful!
You've just stumbled into the enchanted grand hall of fae, folklore, and feral whispers—a living, breathing index of otherworldly beings from across the globe. Think of this as your magical passport to the fae realms, sorted neatly by region so your curiosity doesn’t get lost in the woods. Here you’ll find creatures from Celtic mists to Asian mountains, each with their own deliciously eerie backstory.
✨ And here's a trick worthy of the fae themselves: once I've penned a deeper dive into any of these beings, their title will shimmer like golden fairy dust—a clickable link glowing yellow to guide you to their full tale. So if you see a name dressed in that sunny hue, know that the full story awaits you with open arms and perhaps... a warning.
This index is ever-evolving, much like the spirits it chronicles. Check back often, for new lore is always whispering at the edges of our world.
Now, gather 'round the fire, and let’s peer into the veil...
🏴 The Celtic & British Isles
The VIP suite of Faerie lore—home to noble courts, mischievous creatures, and a few beings you’d be wise not to cross.
Banshee (Ireland) – Wailing woman who foretells death; not a ghost, but a fae of ancestral warning.
Leprechaun (Ireland) – Mischievous shoe-making fae known for gold hoards and trickery.
Pooka / Púca (Ireland) – Shapeshifter, often appearing as a dark horse, goat, or rabbit; known to cause chaos or offer riddles.
Selkie (Scotland/Ireland) – Seal-folk who shed their skins to walk as humans; stories are often tragic and romantic.
Brownie (Scotland) – Helpful house fae who do chores, but will leave if offended (or if you give them clothes!).
Bean Nighe (Scotland) – Washerwoman spirit seen cleaning blood-stained clothes before battle or death.
Redcap (Scotland) – Malevolent goblin who soaks his hat in human blood. Yes, he’s as jolly as he sounds.
Tylwyth Teg (Wales) – A general term for Welsh fairies; known for beautiful appearances and illusion magic.
Gwragedd Annwn (Wales) – Lake fae, often female, associated with beauty and otherworldly realms.
🇫🇷 France & Brittany
Land of love, lace, and surprisingly fierce fairies.
Lutins – Small household spirits akin to brownies; can be helpful or naughty depending on how they’re treated.
Fées – The origin of our modern “fairy,” stemming from French folklore; often noble, elegant, and powerful.
Melusine – Serpentine or mermaid-like fae who marries a mortal, with tragic conditions.
🇩🇪 Germanic & Nordic Regions
Where the forests are deep, the winters are long, and the spirits don’t play nice unless you do.
Alp – Nightmare-inducing fae or spirit; sits on your chest while you sleep.
Erlking (Erlkönig) – A fae king of death or seduction, luring children or travelers to the otherworld.
Nisse / Tomte (Scandinavia) – Farm-dwelling spirits; helpful unless angered, in which case, chaos.
Huldra (Scandinavia) – Beautiful forest woman with a cow’s tail; seduces men and sometimes marries them.
Vættir (Iceland/Norway) – Land spirits; deeply respected and considered guardians or avengers of the land.
🇬🇷 Greece
Call them nymphs, call them spirits—either way, they’ve got major fae vibes.
Dryads – Tree spirits, usually female, tied to the life of a specific tree.
Naiads – Freshwater nymphs inhabiting springs, rivers, and lakes.
Nereids – Sea nymphs; kind to sailors but capable of vengeance.
Satyrs & Fauns – Mischievous woodland spirits; revelers of wine, mischief, and seduction.
🇮🇹 Italy
Land of beauty, pasta, and ancient fae that weave fate like thread.
Fata – Italian fairies often associated with fate (related to “Fates” and “Fées”).
Lasa (Etruscan) – Winged female spirits who served as guardians or muses; often protective and beautiful.
🇷🇺 Slavic Lands
A region rich in spirits who will either help you… or haunt you forever.
Domovoi – House spirit; protective, beardy little being who rewards good household management.
Rusalka – Water spirit of a drowned woman; sometimes seductive, often vengeful.
Leshy – Forest spirit who can lead travelers astray or protect animals; very mercurial.
Bannik – Bathhouse spirit—yes, even your sauna might be fae-occupied; requires appeasement rituals.
🇯🇵 Japan
From the high mountains to the haunted bathtubs, Japanese folklore drips with fae-like beings.
Zashiki-warashi – Spirit child who lives in homes, brings good fortune (if treated well).
Kodama – Tree spirits that protect ancient forests (yes, like those Studio Ghibli cuties!).
Tengu – Winged mountain tricksters or protectors, often associated with monks and martial arts.
Yamauba – Mountain hag spirit with both nurturing and devouring sides.
🇨🇳 China
Where spirits and shapeshifters flirt between realms of divine beauty and trickster mayhem.
Huli Jing – Fox spirit; beautiful and wise, but can be deceptive and dangerous.
Yaoguai – Fae-like spirits or animals that gain sentience and magical power through cultivation.
Jingwei – Spirit of a drowned girl who became a bird trying to fill the sea with pebbles.
🇰🇷 Korea
Land of mythical beasts, goblins with golden hearts, and foxes that may (or may not) eat yours.
Dokkaebi – Goblin-like beings with magical clubs and a love of games; can bring fortune or cause trouble.
Gumiho – Nine-tailed fox spirit, usually female, often seductive and magical—some stories end in romance, others in gore.
🇮🇳 India
A land where celestial dancers and corpse-possessing spirits share the stage.
Yaksha/Yakshini – Nature spirits; can be either benevolent or mischievous depending on the lore.
Apsara – Celestial nymphs who dance in the heavens; beautiful and enchanting.
Vetala – Tree- and grave-dwelling spirits that possess corpses—think fae meets vampire meets riddle master.
Other / Global
The fae aren’t just a European affair. Tricksters, guardians, and spirits roam every corner of the world.
Elementals (Western Occultism) – Fae-like spirits of Earth (gnomes), Air (sylphs), Water (undines), Fire (salamanders).
Anito (Philippines) – Ancestral and nature spirits; honored in rituals and deeply tied to land and family.
Tikoloshe (Zulu) – Mischievous and often malicious water-dwelling spirit.
Curupira (Brazil) – Forest guardian with backward feet to confuse hunters; protector of animals.
Did I forget your favorite spirit, fairy, or forest-dwelling fiend? Or do you know of a lesser-known local legend that deserves a spot by this ever-burning campfire? Don’t be shy—drop it like it’s cursed in the comments below and let’s expand this arcane archive together. ✨
This living index will grow as I do, and every new tale added will be linked in golden yellow, shining like the glint of a leprechaun’s last coin. So check back often, my dear night-owl… the veil is always shifting.
